SEBASTIAN VETTEL has disclosed the “crucial mistake” he advised Lewis Hamilton to avoid before his transition to Ferrari.
Hamilton, 40, made a remarkable switch for the 2025 season.
Sebastian Vettel shared the advice he gave to Lewis Hamilton prior to his Ferrari moveCredit: GettyHamilton did not secure a podium finish in a season for the first time in his F1 careerCredit: Getty
However, this dream collaboration has turned into a challenging experience, with Hamilton failing to secure a podium finish in a season for the first time in his career.
The British driver will compete for Scuderia again in 2026, as new regulations aim to disrupt the current order, potentially giving Hamilton another opportunity for championship success.
This was something the four-time world champion, Vettel, could not accomplish during his time with the Italian team – ironically, he was defeated for the title by Hamilton while driving for Mercedes.
Despite not winning a championship, Vettel’s tenure at Ferrari from 2015 to 2020 saw him become the team's third-most successful driver in terms of Grand Prix victories.
Vettel, 38, revealed that he offered advice to his former rival before Hamilton's move to Ferrari, urging him to avoid making a significant mistake he made by not dedicating enough effort to learning Italian.
During an appearance on the Beyond The Grid podcast , the German driver stated: “I believe that’s a crucial mistake I made, looking back. I learned Italian, I took classes, and I managed to get by and understand, but I wasn’t perfect.
“I should have truly studied Italian more. Perhaps I should have also spent additional time to better understand the culture – since culture is also about the people.
“And I advised Lewis before he made the move – I said: ‘The only advice I can offer you, the best advice I can give, is to learn the language. Learn it very, very well.’
“To learn a language, you must immerse yourself in it, so you begin to converse with the locals, you are in the country where the language is spoken, which exposes you to the culture, and then everything else will fall into place.
“Now, of course, when it comes to racing and discussing your setup, you could argue it’s irrelevant – and it is to some extent. However, for the bigger picture, understanding the culture and the spirit is incredibly important.”
Nevertheless, Hamilton admitted at a Peroni event in July that his Italian was
Vettel transitioned to Ferrari from Red Bull, where he secured four consecutive world driver titles.
Reflecting on his own experience at Ferrari and the differences compared to Red Bull, he remarked: “Different, very different. I loved it. I have no regrets and had a fantastic time.
“I adapted, and I enjoyed it. I appreciate British humor, I admire the British people, and I love many aspects of it – the racing, the approach. But in a way, I believe I adapted.
“Now, I don’t want to suggest that Lewis didn’t adapt or that British drivers don’t have to adapt – of course, adaptation is necessary, and you travel the world and encounter new experiences and learn – but I can’t say how it would have been if my first language were English, and I was uncomfortable in a foreign language while moving somewhere else.
“Now, for Lewis, the international language is obviously English; he was with a British team. Every team is unique, very distinct, and he was with Mercedes for an extended period.
“Transitioning to Ferrari will undoubtedly be a significant change, as the heart and culture of the team is Italian.
“The primary language is English; he understands everyone on the team.
“However, there are employees he may not comprehend because they either don’t speak English or don’t speak it well. If you don’t have a strong grasp of a language, you can get by, but do you truly understand the people? And do you grasp the culture?”
Vettel announced his retirement from the sport in 2022 after two years with Aston Martin.
The first race of the 2026 F1 season will commence on March 8 in .
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Sebastian Vettel shared the advice he gave to Lewis Hamilton prior to his Ferrari moveCredit: Getty
Hamilton did not secure a podium finish in a season for the first time in his F1 careerCredit: Getty
